Wonder when CCTP is going to take similar action !

[Srikumar Natarajan]

Can some of us coax the CCTP again and point out this menace to them, please?  I say again, since I've been trying to do that passively, for a while.

Srikumar

Posted On Wednesday, September 12, 2012 at 04:19:39 AM

The Bangalore Traffic Police have woken up to the menace of two-wheeler riders taking the footpath in order to beat the morning rush. In the last six months, more than 3,000 offenders have been booked, fined Rs 400 each and their driving licences suspended for six months.   Helmetless riders are given three chances before their licences are suspended. But in the case of footpath riding, the police have taken the issue seriously, suspending the licence for the first-time offence itself. The police are referring cases of footpath riding to the RTO for taking suitable action.   “Interestingly, a majority of the 3,101 offenders are college students and most offences were recorded in the morning (during college hours),” said Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) M A Saleem.   Students trying to beat the morning rush to make it to their colleges on time are the worst offenders. Police say that not only are these students breaking the law, but putting the lives of pedestrians and others in danger. The police resorted to suspending licences and they found offenders repeating these acts.    Vivek, an ITPL employee, has the dubious distinction of becoming the first two-wheeler rider whose licence was suspended for the offence. He was caught riding on the footpath in the Whitefield traffic police station limits on August 8. His licence was sent to the RTO in Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), where he hailed from, recommending its suspension.     Cops lauded on FB Citizens, however, seem to be impressed with the police action. The cops are not only being complemented on the Facebook, but also being urged to impose harsher punishment on offenders. For instance, Vasuki Goroor Srinivasan commented on the FB page, “Could not this rider be prosecuted under IPC for attempted manslaughter/culpable homicide not amounting to murder? After all, it could be argued that it was his intention to kill a pedestrian with his chosen weapon called motorcycle.”   Sumathindra Rao posted, “Law enforcement should be such that they dare not do it again. Seize the vehicle, put the person behind bars for a day or two, impose heavy fines, ask the person to do community service, etc. Law must be enforced and not merely followed.”    Pradeep Srinivas said, “(footpath driving should be considered a criminal offence. The offender should be jailed for a month and fined heavily. Seize the vehicle too. They should send a warning for the rest of the crowd who still does it.”